Beaudry Named Huskies’ Starting QB
The Story: We can all finally rest easy. Randy Edsall announced really, really early yesterday morning that Mike Beaudry will be the Huskies’ starting quarterback this season.
UP AND AT ‘EM: We know Edsall’s usually in his office by 6 o’clock, but sending out a tweet at 5:47 a.m. with an answer to the biggest question surrounding the program is a news dump that only the Journal Inquirer could love. Even we couldn’t rush out of bed and gather our thoughts within 13 minutes to tell you fine folks of the news.
TOP CHOICE: Beaudry was the favorite to be named the Huskies’ starting quarterback from the minute he made the decision to transfer to UConn from West Florida over the winter. He took the majority of snaps with the first team during fall camp and earned the nod over redshirt freshman Steven Krajewski and true freshman Jack Zergiotis. (The other contender, N.C. State Micah Leon, missed time with an injury.) Edsall may not have been entirely pleased with the quarterbacks’ collective performances, but he’s hoping handing the reins to Beaudry will allow him to establish the Huskies as his team.
ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE: By anointing Beaudry, the Huskies will begin the season with a starting quarterback who began his collegiate career elsewhere for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons. And while Zach Frazer joined the Huskies from Notre Dame, Beaudry has had the most success of that group, having led West Florida to the Division II national title game in 2017.
AS FOR THE OFFENSE: One of the things Edsall stressed when John Dunn left for the New York Jets and Frank Giufre was promoted to offensive coordinator was that the overall concepts would not change. Still, Beaudry, at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, is a bit different of a player than David Pindell, at barely 6 feet and 190 pounds, ever was. Giufre has an interesting way of motivating his players, but he’s convinced he has cooked up a recipe for success that will help the Huskies move the ball this season.
Morning Reads
DUCKS IN FEBRUARY: The women’s basketball team will host Oregon at Gampel Pavilion on Feb. 3. It’ll be one of the most highly anticipated games of the season. (Hearst Connecticut Media)
BASEBALL LANDS TRANSFER: Former North Carolina third baseman Ben Casparius, from Westport, has transferred to UConn and is hoping to secure a waiver to play for the Huskies in the spring. (Hearst Connecticut Media)
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: The addition of freshman Vladislav Firstov, a second-round pick by the Minnesota Wild, should help bolster the men’s hockey team’s offense this season.
HUSKIES GO TO HARTFORD: The men’s and women’s soccer teams will play nearly all of their games at Dillon Stadium in Hartford this season as the construction of the Rizza Family Soccer Complex continues. (The UConn Blog)
